Stars coach Jim Montgomery has reached into the past to find out more about his team

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Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock speaks during a press conference following the conclusion of the 2017-2018 National Hockey League regular season last Saturday at the Dr Pepper StarCenter Texas Monday April 9, 2018. The Stars finished the season 42-32-8 and sixth in the Central Division. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)

BOSTON -- To learn more about his new team, Stars coach Jim Montgomery has enlisted help from his predecessor: Ken Hitchcock.

Montgomery said he's talked to the former Stars coach three times since the season started, exchanging ideas off the one-time Stanley Cup winning and winningest coach in Dallas history.

"He's great," Montgomery said. "He's someone I can bounce ideas off of. He gives great insight into the game and also he knows this team well. It's not often we're talking, but the other day after Detroit I called him and he was really good that day in Montreal to figure out how to approach things.

"Usually shoot him a text to see if he's available and he's unreal. He's always available."

This part of the Stars' recent play has pleased coach Jim Montgomery, and it was on full display against the Capitals

Montgomery's playing style is a bit different than Hitchcock's defensively oriented teachings. Montgomery likes to play aggressively in all three zones, pressuring then possessing pucks instead of playing a more conservative style.

But Hitchcock could shed some light on the team for Montgomery. For example, Montgomery said he talked to Hitchcock about the Stars struggling in the third period.

There has been a stark difference between Dallas' second and third periods this season. In the second, the Stars have scored 19 goals, tied for third best in the league. They have outshot opponents by nearly five shots per game in the second period.

In the third period, though, Dallas has scored just 10 goals, tied for third-fewest in the NHL. They have been outshot by 4.4 shots per game in the third period. The Stars are 8-0-0 when leading after two periods and 0-5-0 when trailing or tied after two periods.

"I talked to Hitch, and he even said last year was the third period was their toughest period," Montgomery said. "What I've liked the last two games is our third period's been really good and we're trying to continue to build off that."

-- Tyler Pitlick will go back on the Stars' top power play unit Monday in Boston, playing in the slot with Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza in the circles, Jamie Benn in front of the net and John Klingberg at the point.

"He's really good at supporting pucks and coming in and retrieving pucks," Montgomery said. "To have a right shot in the hole is beneficial with Jamie's ability to make plays."

Pitlick spent four games on the top power play unit with Alexander Radulov's absence due to a lower-body injury. Radulov returned for one game in Montreal, then Miro Heiskanen assumed the vacated spot on the top unit for two games.

Pitlick scored a power-play goal against Los Angeles on Oct. 23, when Benn and Seguin asked for Pitlick to be on their line. Montgomery said Boston's penalty kill was also different than the ones in Toronto or Washington, suiting Pitlick's skillset more.

"It's a different style of PK in zone and we think that this will give us better opportunities at success," Montgomery said.

Other notes

-- Stars forward Brett Ritchie missed morning skate on Monday because he was under the weather, Montgomery said. If Ritchie is not ready to play Monday night against Boston, Justin Dowling would slot into his right wing spot on the fourth line.

-- Stars defenseman Marc Methot will miss his second consecutive game and fifth game of the season with a nagging lower-body injury. Last year, Methot endured a knee injury.

"Meth is still not 100 percent," Montgomery said. "We liked how the team played last game. If he was good, he'd be back in."

Instead of Methot, Dillon Heatherington will play his second straight game on defense. In Washington, the coaching staff largely limited his exposure and he only played 6:59.